PORTLAND, OR — What does it mean to create? To imagine something that doesn’t exist yet — and then make it real? Portland Queer Arts Foundation (PQA) is proud to announce that Daniel Switzer (he/him/they) will serve as Artistic Director of the 2026 Portland Queer Arts Spectacular, bringing that question to vivid, multidisciplinary life on stage at the Alberta Rose Theatre.
The World We Create invites audiences and artists to explore queerness not as something to be explained or defended, but as a generative force: a way of seeing, making, and reimagining what the world can hold. The Spectacular takes the stage for two nights on September 19 and 20, 2026, with performances beginning at 7:00 PM both evenings.
“Queerness has always been an act of creation — we create our identities, our communities, our sense of belonging in a world that doesn’t always make room for us,” says Switzer. “With The World We Create, I want artists and audiences to feel the full weight of that power. This show is about what we build when we give ourselves permission to dream out loud.“
A multidisciplinary performer and creator with more than a decade of experience across theater, film, and dance, Switzer has journeyed from the stages of Broadway to the Pacific Northwest, where his creative passion and love for art have merged in ways he never imagined. His credits include Wicked (1st National Tour), Newsies (1st National Tour and Live on Disney+), Disney’s Frozen (1st National Tour), and Mean Girls on Broadway, earning him Broadway World nominations with his directorial work winning recognition at indie film festivals, including the NY Indie Theatre Film Festival. Switzer holds a Master’s degree in Communication and New Media from Southern New Hampshire University, and brings to his directing a conviction that clear, empathetic communication is as essential to artistic leadership as creative vision itself.
“Daniel’s vision for The World We Create speaks to something essential about what queer artists do,” said John T. Perry (he/him), Founder and President of PQA. “We don’t just reflect culture — we build it. Watching that truth come to life on stage is exactly what Portland Queer Arts Foundation exists to do.”
Now in its third year, the Queer Arts Spectacular has established itself as Portland’s premiere multidisciplinary queer arts event, uniting drag, dance, vocal performance, spoken word, short film, and visual art under a single, cohesive artistic vision. The 2025 Spectacular, Do You See Me?, drew enthusiastic audiences and earned widespread recognition for its emotional depth and artistic range.
Queer artists of all disciplines are invited to audition. Auditions will be April 27 and 28, 2026. Registration opens March 30 at portlandqueerarts.foundation/auditions. PQA encourages artists across all performance disciplines — including drag, dance, vocal performance, spoken word, burlesque, and more — to apply.
For more information on the Spectacular and The World We Create visit our website at portlandqueerarts.foundation/spectacular.
About the Portland Queer Arts Spectacular
The Portland Queer Arts Spectacular is Portland Queer Arts Foundation’s flagship annual event — a multidisciplinary live stage production. Each year, the Spectacular centers a unifying theme and curated artistic vision, bringing together Portland’s most exciting queer talent for an unforgettable evening of storytelling and celebration.
About Portland Queer Arts Foundation
Portland Queer Arts Foundation uplifts and celebrates Portland’s queer artists, advocates, and allies by creating inclusive, joyful, and interdisciplinary arts experiences. From live performances and artist grants to community events, the organization cultivates space for bold expression, collaborative storytelling, and lasting cultural impact. Portland Queer Arts Foundation is based in Portland, Oregon, and committed to amplifying underrepresented voices across Portland and the surrounding metropolitan area.